Location: Saalagraamam
in Nepal
(Vada Naadu)
Vishnu: Sree Murthy,
Taayaar: Sree Devi
Theertham:Chakra Theertham
Paasuram :Tirumangaialwar, Periyalwar
Vimaanam:Kanaka Vimanam
Travel Base:Nepal
Description
Muktinath is a pilgrimage shrine located 140 miles from
Kathmandu in the snow clad Himalayas. It is located near the Gandaki river
famous for the Salagrama stones. River Gandaki is also known as Narayani
or Salagrami. Muktinath is also one of the 51 Sakthi Peethams of India.
About 16 miles from Muktinath is the Damodara Kundam, the source of this
river. The Salagrama stones held in worship are found in this part of
Nepal.
The Tamil Alwars of
the 1st millennium CE have sung of Salagramam in the Naalayira Divya Prabandam.
Periyalwar refers to Krishna as Salagramamudaiya Nambi in one
of his verses dedicated to Krishna, in a decad describing Krishna as a
child. In another verse, in a decad describing Tirukkandam or Kadinagar,
he refers to Salagramam with the comment that Vishnu enshrined in Mathura,
Salagramam, Dwaraka, Ayodhya and Sree Vaikuntam
is the same as the one (Purushottaman) enshrined in Tirukkandam or Kadinagar
(Devaprayag). Tirumangaialwar in his decad of verses
declares that Salgramam is home to Rama and that the deity of Kudandai,
and Ooragam resides at Salagramam.
There is no firm agreement
on the whereabouts of the Sree Vaishnava Divya Desam Tiruchaalagramam.
One school of thought considers Muktinath in the snow clad Himalayas in
Nepal to be Salagramam, while another considers the bank of the Gandaki
river enroute to Muktinath from Kathmandu as Tiruchaalagraamam.
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